“I, uh… sent you a package.”
Her head tilts. “A package?”
“Just some stuff I looked up.” I rub the back of my neck. “Supplements. Crackers. Magnesium balm and ginger chews—”
“You got me crackers?”
“Saw them in your office. Figured they’d be a good snack filler. Should all get there tomorrow.”
She stares at me, then lets out a breathy sort of laugh. “Jesus, Hutchison. Are you keeping a log?”
“No,” I say. “Just paying attention.”
And keeping my notes app filled with everything I remember you like and don’t like.
Carina is staring now, her mouth open slightly, looking as though she doesn’t know whether to laugh or kiss the phone.
“I know you’re a doctor,” I say quickly. “You probably know everything already. I just… I didn’t want you to have to think about it. In case you forgot to eat, or got sick.”
She’s still staring, and I swear I see a sheen in her eyes.
“You sent me ginger chews?”
“They’re mango flavored,” I murmur. “Supposed to be the least disgusting ones.”
“That’s outrageously thoughtful.”
I shrug. “I just wanted to help.”
She goes quiet again, and I can tell she’s trying not to get emotional, which means I don’t say anything else.
“Thank you, Reid.”
Something tells me she’s not used to being looked after like this, but that’s just who I am.
I look after the people I love.
“How are you feeling?” I shift the camera so I can lie back fully, settling into the pillows with a sigh. “Any nausea today?”
“A little.” She pauses. “Better now.”
“Resting enough?”
She shrugs, but it’s not defensive.
“Eat anything?”
“Yeah.” She plays with the sleeve of her hoodie. “Didn’t have surgery tonight, so I got to eat actual food at a normal hour. Felt like a miracle.”
I smile, playing with the edge of my blanket “What’d you eat?”
“Don’t laugh,” she warns, which is already a bad sign. “Rice. And cucumber. Like… an entire cucumber.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, there was sesame oil involved, too. It was a whole thing.” She lifts her chin like I should be impressed. “Very balanced.”
I can’t help it, I laugh, and she smiles like it’s the best thing she’s done all day.
